Backer of Aquarion takeover in Oxford enraged by fake letter

Wednesday

May 7, 2014 at 6:00 AMMay 7, 2014 at 9:37 AM

By Ellie Oleson CORRESPONDENT

OXFORD — There was one problem with a lobbying letter apparently signed by local business consultant Robert T. Weldon and mailed to dozens of local voters. He did not write it. His signature had been written by neighbor Michael Plouffe, chairman of the Oxford Municipal Research Group.

Mr. Weldon, a resident of 8 Willow Court, was shocked when he received calls Monday evening asking him about a letter he supposedly had mailed asking voters to "Please join me in voting No" at town meeting Wednesday night. Voters will decide then whether to appropriate $2.7 million to complete the controversial purchase of the Oxford water system from Aquarion Water Co. of Bridgeport, Conn.

"I did not write the letter. I did not know about the letter, and I am voting yes to buy the water company," Mr. Weldon said.

The letter contained a signature alleged to be his, which it is not, and the address 6 Willow Court, which is wrong, and claimed he was not served by Aquarion, which he is.

He contacted selectmen, neighbors and others asking if they had received the false letter and said he planned to call the U.S. Postal Service to file a complaint alleging mail fraud.

"I was furious. I still am. It was very unsettling. They got my address wrong and said I have a well when I don't, and signed my name to a letter opposed to my position," he said.

In an interview Tuesday, Mr. Plouffe said, "It was a stupid error. We have permission from others, who said we could use their names on the mailings. I wrote Mr. Weldon's name from a list. I am a friend of his. I have done work for him. This is hitting home. I am devastated."

He said he has no staff, just a few volunteers working for his research group, which is focused solely on the Aquarion question. He said area business owners fund his mailings encouraging a 'no' vote, though he declined to name them "for fear of repercussion."

He said an estimated 30 letters went out with Mr. Weldon's signature. Hundreds of other letters were also mailed, all mass-produced with copied signatures.

"It's horrible. It was an error on my behalf. I can't believe this happened. From now on, we will always have people sign their own letters. I want to meet with Mr. Weldon and apologize," Mr. Plouffe said.

On Tuesday, Mr. Weldon received a letter from Mona Howard of Thayer Pond Drive, which, he said, "lambasted me for supporting Aquarion." The water company has been fighting the takeover, which would be funded by Oxford ratepayers.

Ms. Howard said, "Many of us aren't enamored of Aquarion," and suggested Mr. Weldon consider relocating to a small town in Montana.

A second letter from Linda M. Dickson of Buffum Dam Road contained a $20 bill to "support" his efforts. She said, "I don't imagine there's anything they can say that would change our minds."

"I'll return the $20," Mr. Weldon said, which he did on Tuesday.

On Tuesday morning, he received a call from Mr. Plouffe admitting he had signed Mr. Weldon's name to the letter and apologizing.

"Michael asked to come to my house to talk about Aquarion. I told him there was no way on God's green earth that I would support that cause," Mr. Weldon said.

"My wife and I were on the fence before all this happened. Now we are going to town meeting and voting yes."

Mr. Weldon is not satisfied. He said the letters he received supporting and criticizing him "just show me that his using my name had bigger implications than I first imagined. People should know the tactics they are using."

Mr. Weldon said he probably will not file a fraud grievance with the postmaster if two conditions are met, and met quickly.

First, he wanted letters sent overnight to all those who received the letter admitting wrongdoing and giving his true position in support of the purchase of Aquarion. He wanted the letters delivered before town meeting.

Secondly, he wanted a written apology from the research group.

John G. Saad, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, said he was shocked when Mr. Weldon called on Monday evening to report the letter.

"I was speechless. It makes me wonder why anyone would stoop so low. Why should we believe no other fraudulent letters went out? And why shouldn't the businesses supporting these letters identify themselves? Are they ashamed?

"I find it hard to believe that anyone would sign someone else's name to a document by accident. That's not a mistake, that's fraud."

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